After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Hejige, as the commander of the Manchu-Mongol cavalry guarding the right flank of the Great Wall, led three thousand cavalrymen, each with two horses, armed with three-eyed guns and new-style firearms, making them the elite of the nation's elite forces.

During the Battle of Yangyuan, he was transferred by Ortai to participate in the encirclement and suppression of that son of a bitch, Ning Jiexiao.

The Heavenly Principle Sect... is just a bunch of rabble.

That was what he originally thought.

After a month and a half of fighting, Hejige still hadn't seen a trace of Ning Jiexiao.

Not only him, but every single one of the Manchu and Mongol cavalrymen was seething with anger.

There was no merit, and no reward.

A while ago, a few soldiers in their army plundered a village and had a feast. They were punished by Ortai military law officers and flogged.

Hezig was already seething with anger, and it only intensified.

"A bunch of useless trash! How dare they lead us away?!" one of the captains complained to him.

Hejig scolded him, "Don't curse Lord Ortai."

But if the other party insults Huang Zhongcai, this so-called governor has no say in it.

Hejige didn't know why the emperor trusted this incompetent man so much, even appointing him as a temporary governor and the vice minister of the Ministry of War, which was quite a high-ranking position.

However, Huang Zhongcai was sensible enough to know that the title of governor-general was not enough to intimidate people.

He was only bossy to the Green Standard Army soldiers, but extremely respectful to the guards and their cavalry.

The military orders issued to them, in addition to bearing the official seal of the governor, always had Ortai's signature.

Hejige couldn't very well retaliate, as he had to give Ortai, the Minister of War, a respectful look.

Moreover, in order to enable Ortai to better supervise the various prefectures in Shanxi, the emperor also gave him the title of Governor of Shanxi.

Currently, Ortai is the largest area in the entire Shanxi province.

Night had fallen.

Inside the military tent, everyone gathered around the map, offering their opinions and suggestions.

Hezig found it annoying.

I can understand why Huang Zhongcai, this Han Chinese, is so stupid, but how could Ortai have forgotten how the old Khan fought?

When the old Khan listed his seven great grievances and rebelled against the Liang Dynasty, the Liang Dynasty sent four armies, totaling 200,000 troops, to fight against him.

But the old Khan said, "No matter how many routes you take, I will only go one way."

Leading the Eight Banners, he only attacked Du Song's troops, and defeated Du Song in Sarhu. Then he fought several battles in different directions, and in just a few days he wiped out 200,000 Liang troops. How impressive!

Hejige had heard this story since he was a child, but unexpectedly Ortai had forgotten it.

Seeing that these people were still discussing where Ning Jiexiao would break out from, what tricks he might use, and what they should do if he did, Hejige raised his eyebrows, somewhat disdainfully.

If you're led by the nose in battle by a bunch of rabble, how can you even fight a bird?

therefore.

"grown ups,"

Hezig crossed his arms and said this:

"If you ask me, this scoundrel Ning Jiexiao has nowhere to escape this time."

No matter which way you try to escape.

I just went one way.

If you feint to the east while attacking the west, I will go east and wipe out those in the east, then go and kill those in the west.

Even if Ning Jiexiao isn't in the east this time, he'll definitely be there next time.

After a few rounds of killing, how could they possibly fail to wipe them out?

Especially since the area around Yunzhong Mountain is now completely deserted.

As long as their cavalry is well prepared, they can ignore how many routes Ning Jiexiao might take to escape and simply use their horses to chase after him and kill him all.

How can we let thieves outsmart us and keep us running for our lives?

The official, wearing a dark blue robe and a red feathered hat, narrowed his eyes.

He noticed the other person's disdainful look towards Huang Zhongcai, but he was not offended.

"Commander Hezig," he said calmly, "what are your thoughts?"

Brilliant insight… Hezig disliked the Han Chinese’s flowery way of speaking and shook his head, saying:

"I have no brilliant ideas, but plenty of low ones. However, my low ones are probably several heads higher than some people's brilliant ones. Please don't take offense, sir."

Inside the tent, Huang Zhongcai and several Green Standard Army officers kept their eyes down, remaining silent.

The expressions of the staff were similar, with some even looking somewhat nervous.

The Manchu officers and deputy officers of the guard chuckled softly; they knew who Hejige was talking about.

Hezig shared his thoughts.

Everyone was stunned.

"No matter how many routes you take, I will only go one way."

This was the decisive battle for the founding emperor's rule. Everyone looked around, not daring to speak out, exchanging a few glances and remaining silent.

Hezig snorted and said:

"In my opinion, the guard battalion and the Green Standard Army should act as sentry posts. Wherever the bandits break out, they should light a signal fire, and I will lead the cavalry to attack."

"Take care of one route first. We won't worry about the other areas for now. You can hold off the enemy if you can, but it's okay if you can't. We'll lead the cavalry, kill our way through, and get here."

"Excellent!" exclaimed the Green Standard Army adjutant from Shuozhou.

Several other staff members nodded in agreement, saying, "Commander Hezig possesses the unwavering composure of a renowned general, yet moves with the force of thunder."

Hezig smiled slightly; he was thoroughly fed up with this life of chasing after others.

But to his surprise, Ortai, Huang Zhongcai, and especially several Manchu leaders with whom he had a good relationship, seemed rather silent at this moment.

Hezig narrowed his eyes and looked at Huang Zhongcai:

"Governor Huang, what do you say?"

Huang Zhongcai glanced at him, opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

One of the battalion commanders couldn't help but say:

"Hezig, what if they try to break out down the mountain, and then retreat again as soon as you arrive?"

"Huh?" Hezig was taken aback.

It shrank back?

Another commander sneered:

"You can even ride a horse uphill?"

"No, what Commander Hezig said makes sense."

At this moment, Ortai shook his head, affirming Hejige's decision.

Hejige was someone he thought highly of, but Ning Jiexiao had always accompanied the army, and Ning Jiexiao had never directly fought against them, so Hejige didn't understand Ning Jiexiao.

He still needs the other party to exert a great deal of effort this time, and it is indeed time for the other party to exert their effort, and to do so.

"Unlike the previous times when Ning Jiexiao exploited the natural landscape,"

Ortai stood up and tapped the map of Yunzhong Mountain.

"The Ning tribe has been driven into a corner by us! This time, they have no food or supplies, and they have no choice but to break out. Therefore, they will definitely come down the mountain, and there is absolutely no way they will retreat back up there."

As soon as Ortai spoke, everyone felt a chill and nodded in agreement.

"Commander Hejige,"

Ortai looked at the cavalry commander with an imposing gaze, though not angry:

"This is the time for your department to serve the Emperor. If you can capture him alive... no, regardless of whether you capture him alive or not, as long as I see Ning Jiexiao's head..."

Ortai said with certainty:

"You have made outstanding contributions in this battle! I will recommend your unit for commendation!"

Upon hearing this, Hezig's eyes immediately lit up!

Just as he was about to bow in thanks, he heard a sudden sound of footsteps outside the tent.

"Report!"

An urgent report has arrived.

"Come in!" Ortai shouted.

"Your Majesty!"

The messenger, drenched in sweat, rushed in, knelt, and kowtowed to report:

"Urgent report from Loufan County, at the foot of Guandi Mountain! Ning Jiexiao..."

The messenger's voice trembled:

"Ning Jiexiao has incited bandits from the Lüliang Mountains to rebel! They are currently attacking Loufan County!"

The tent was quiet.

After a few breaths, Ortai opened his eyes wide and asked, "W-what did you say?"

……

……

The night was dark and desolate.

The entire city of Nanjing was in a state of tension today.

It wasn't until nightfall.

The rumbling thunder gradually subsided.

News of the fall of Jiangpu City did not arrive.

The tension in the entire city finally eased a little.

But at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), when the moon is at its brightest.

An urgent report, delivered by express courier, was sent to the palace. Gao Congzhe, who was left in charge of the cabinet, received the report.

The city of Nanjing, and indeed the entire Daliang, was once again on edge, and it would be difficult to relax for a very long time…

……

Guizhou, thousands of miles away...

The Tusi (chieftain) of Guizhou, the Xi'an clan of Shuixi.

They betrayed us...